Page 20 of The Trouble with Anna

Interesting, thought Julian.

Anna’s eyes had never been so wide, nor her head so thoroughly befuddled. The carriage seemed to grow smaller with every passing moment, and warmer too, until Anna felt quite flushed. Was it because Lord Ramsay was impressively large and took up more than his share of space?

His shoulders filled up her vision so she couldn’t see anything else. She certainly couldn’t think straight.

Why was he being so attentive?

It seemed an important question, if only she could hold on to it.

“Lady Anna?” His voice was impossibly deep. She had thestrangest urge to lean her cheek against his chest and listen to it rumble.

“Yes?” she squeaked.

“If I call on you tomorrow, will you go walking with me?”

Anna had to remind herself to blink. “Because you insist that you’re my guardian?”

He smiled. “That, and other reasons.”

The harnesses jingled outside, the carriage rocked and swayed. Night air slipped in through a chink in the window and brushed against her collarbone, waking up her skin. “I suppose I have no objection to a walk.”

He leaned closer still, and all her senses stirred and shivered.

“Such progress,” he said softly. “It might go to my head.”

His words teased, but his eyes didn’t. Even as Anna watched they grew darker, more intent.

Her heart began to thrum, as if her blood was running too fast. She was in a carriage, making her way home at a sedate pace, so why did it feel like she was racing?

Julian held her gaze and lowered his head toward her. Slowly, so slowly.

“Lord Ramsay?” she breathed.

He was so close that she could almost feel his lips curve when he smiled.

“Yes, Lady Anna?”

“What are you doing?”

Those impossible eyes of his glittered. “I’d better show you, don’t you think?”

His mouth hovered just above hers and then he—

The carriage jounced to a stop.

“Oh, thank goodness!” cried Anna, flinging herself back in her seat. “We’re here at last!” The footman opened the carriage door, and Anna rushed to gather up her skirts and launch herself out.

“Lady Anna?”

She had one foot on the step, but his voice stopped her.

“Yes?”

“Earlier you asked if I was teasing you.”

“Yes?” she asked again.

“I wasn’t teasing, and I wasn’t flirting either. Not half as much as I intend to.”

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